On the 3d Feb. 1799, Lieutenant Austen was promoted to the rank of Commander, in the Peterel sloop of war at Gibraltar. In this vessel he was employed affording protection to the Mediterranean trade, carrying despatches, and occasionally cruising amongst the Balearic islands, on the coast of Catalonia, and in the gulfs of Lyons and Genoa, where he captured and destroyed upwards of forty vessels of various descriptions. Whilst performing these services, the Peterel was repeatedly exposed to a heavy fire from the enemies’ batteries; and on one occasion had her first Lieutenant mortally wounded[1]. He also assisted at the capture of a French squadron returning from Egypt, in July 1799[2].
On the 21st March, 1800, Captain Austen, whilst cruising near Marseilles, under the orders of Captain Oliver, of the Mermaid frigate, fell in with and attacked three French national vessels, two of which, le Cerf, a ship mounting fourteen 6-pounders, and le Joilliet, a xebec of 6 guns, were driven on the rocks, where the former was totally wrecked; the third, la Ligurienne, a brig of fourteen brass 6-pounders, two 36-pr. howitzers, of the same metal, and 104 men, was obliged to surrender, after a running fight of about an hour and a half; during which the Peterel was never more than a cable’s length from the shore, and frequently not half that distance. This service was performed under a heavy fire from a battery of four 24-pounders; and fortunately, without the loss of a man on our side. La Ligurienne had her commander and 1 man killed, a midshipman and 1 seaman wounded. Captain Oliver was in sight to leeward, but out of gun-shot; the following is an extract from his official letter to Lord Keith: “At one time the Peterel’s stern touched a rock, where she stopped
- ↑ The officer alluded to was Lieutenant Brenton, brother of the present Captains Sir Jahleel and Edward Pelham Brenton. He was unfortunately shot through the breast in a daring attempt to capture an armed vessel near Barcelona, see p. 270.
- ↑ The French squadron consisted of three frigates and two brigs, whose names appear in Vol. I. at p. 267. They were first discovered and chased by the fleet under Lord Keith; but only four 74’s, five frigates, and the Peterel, were present at their capture. Since we published Admiral Markham’s memoir, we have been credibly informed that that officer was fortuitously the senior present: he had not been entrusted with the command of a squadron.
